“The Shady Side of the Street”

After a conversation with my friend Jim, I remembered a story of a time I was once in Texas. First time in my life ever experiencing such an ungodly heat. For we read God walked with Adam in the cool of the day. Come August in Texas, there is no cool of the day let alone cool of the night! They actually have tunnels under the buildings to get from place to place. I hate being cooped up, and loathed the idea of a long walk absent even a window, so I braved the land above. Who travels from the biggest state in the Union all the way to second biggest state in the Union to only see what man has made? I had to feel and smell Texas, but I was wanting to see what God had made.

I looked at my Apple map and found a watering hole 8 blocks west and three blocks north. Being I’m in great shape, or at least thought I was, I said, “how bad can it be? I’ll just walk fast.” As I walked outside the hotel I felt the blanket of heat, or maybe it was just the sheets of hell. It hit me like pizza on Passover!! I knew to my soul this could not be good. But I was determined and my mind was made up.

About 9 blocks in I was still pondering my decision, but the heat had passed and I felt great. Everything seemed great. Oddly I had the whole street to myself. I began to think, “these Texans can’t even handle their own heat!” All the while thinking perhaps my own piety allowed God to make a cloud of coolness around me as I must have been walking with Him and He with me. I was feeling great! I was feeling so great I walked right passed the watering whole. A place of utter amazement according to my IPhone’s review. Over 100 beers on tap and 1/2 on wings till 6pm! I turned around and back tracked myself. I went 3 blocks to far! But it didn’t matter, there was cold beer awaiting me.

Perseverance started to kick in. I looked at my phone and realized it was 119 degrees out and it was 3 in the afternoon. Finally!! I was there. As I entered the tavern, a cloud of silence filled the room. I thought to myself, “well maybe they ain’t seen that many black people round these parts.” I walked to the bar and the barkeeper handed me an ice cold beer!!! I I immediately took a sip, the sip turned into a gulp the gulp into a whole pint. I took a deep breath and felt the relief. I hadn’t realized until then I was drenched in sweat. My golf polo shirt didn’t hide anything. I had the bib, belt water marks and wings. I was hit with sudden spell of slight dizziness as he said, “have a seat.”

I sat down, the barkeeper asked, “what will you be drinking today?” I asked, “what did I just drink?” He smiled, and pointed at the menu’s $2 pint of Coors Light special with a smile. He said, “it was a win win you needed something to drink and few people come to a bar for water.” I thanked him again and requested the local IPA! He explained how there are over 40. I asked, “what is the drink of the locals,” and I started from there.

Over the week I tried every IPA at that watering hole, but none could compare to the first $2 Coors Light!? It wasn’t that the other IPA’s didn’t taste good. They were amazing. But that $2 Coors was a drink of compassion, grace and understanding, and That my brother you just can’t brew... Till this day Seth and I catch up on occasion. He has given me many a tips about the next time I dare to leave Alaska for the state one third the size. How to cope with the heat and most importantly; he taught the importance of the shady side of the street....

What’s the shady side of the street? Let’s start a discussion. What is the shady side of the street to you?